Door construction



Feb: 26, 1935. s, ERSHLER 1,992,524

DOOR CbNSTRUCTI 0N Filed Dec. 1, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR 5 Jana/m h. ERSHLER .26 2.4- gwlA-ffln ATTORN EY 1935- s. H. ERSHLER 1,992,524

DOOR CONSTRUCTION INVENTOR SHMu/n hi [RSI-HER. BY Q ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 26, 1935 UNITEDSTATES.

1,992,524 noon CONSTRUCTION Samuel H. Ershler, WoodclifiLlN. J., assignor to Ershler & Krukin, 'Inc., West New York, N. J.

Appiication becernber 1, 1932, Serial No. 645,280

' 'll'Ciaims. (01. 20-16) This invention relates to door construction. There has been selected, as an embodiment for illustrating an application of the invention, its incorporation into'a truck body, in this case, one designed especially for the conveyance of foods and the like. However, from certain details herein set forth, it will be understood that, within certain limitations of the invention, application may be made thereof to apparatus other than 10 that involved in the particular association herein to be described. The particular embodiment herein set forth is one which merits particular discussion as it serves to illustrate clearly many of the functions derived from the door construction featuring the invention. i

Trucks are used in hospitals and in similar establishments to facilitate the conveyance of foods to patients and the return of the soiled china and other articles to the kitchen. Space, both that consumed by the truck in its movements and its use, as well as the total available space within the truck free for actual article storage, as can readily be understood, is a factor of prime importance. Facility of operation is likewise a matter for serious consideration. A nurse, delivering food to a patient, many times may have her hands loaded with dishes when she approaches the truck; then, unless she has permitted the door giving access to the interior of the truck to remain open, she will be in the predicament of having to determine some method'of opening that door by means other than her hands. Leaving the door open presents a potential danger to persons moving around'the truck. Likewise, many times, where trucks of this type are in use, the space in-which the truck may be manipulated, and in which loading and unloading can be effected, is, at best, extremely limited. If opening the door required its extension to a considerable distance away from the truck, as door structures generally-do, then the efliciency of the unit, its mobility and usefulness are minimized.

It is an object of the invention to provide a door construction, and operating means therefor, which facilitates opening and closing movement of the door to such degree that it may beaccornplished with a minimum of effort. Yet, sucha door, capable of such operation, discloses, when ,opened away from the cabinet, an openingsubstantially much greater than the dimensions of the door when it has so been moved to open position. I

It is an object of the inventionto providea door functioning in the manner indicated, which, 55 when it has been so moved to open position, will in itself constitute a substantially supported shelf, capable of use for resting dishes or like objects thereon before they are deposited within the truck.

It is an object of the invention to provide a 5 door which, merely by its movement during opening and closing, accomplishes-its' own collapse i into small space consuming extentfor its extension to become effective for closing completely the opening wit-hrelation to which the'door is 10 arranged.'- It is an object to construct and ar-. range a door of this type in such mannerthat one may manipulate the door to'open or closed' position merely by bringing the toe of her shoe against a portion of the'door. Infactjnieans are 15 provided by means of which, once the doorhas been given a slight initial impulse, the Idooritself will be impelled to closed position without further efiort on the part of the operator, and with but little sound as the closing operation is completed. I

It'is an object of the'inventionto provide a door of the type indicated, whichyalthough it will, when brought to open position, consume but very. little space on the exterior of the truckyrequires practically no space at all within the truck at any pointin, or for 'any of, its operations. Since the door, or any portion thereof does not move to a position within the truck as the door is opened, no allowance in the construction of the truck need be made for any such moving section within the chamber in *thetruck.

In order to accomplish these objects, a door, formed of a plurality of sections, has the sections arranged to slide one with relation to the'other. One of the sections may be pivoted at an edge of the'opening which is to be closed by the door. A bar, or a plurality of bars, pivotally mounted on'the bottom of the chamber within the truck, alsopivotally engage one of the sections other than the pivoted one; The construction is such that, as pressure is brought to bear on the door; in moving it to its several position s,'relative slid-Q ing movement of the sections will occur to'the' effect that the two sections will be positioned in collapsed relationship when the door is opened, and will be extendedone above the'other when the door is closed. 'Ihe sections maybe dimensioned with relation to each other and to the bar or bars so that the door, when opened, will 138 collapsed to but one-half oreven less of its extent'whenclosing the opening. Spring members may engage the bar orbars and, in such case," may function to urge the door to'closed position. When the open door is kicked, these spring mem- ,5

bers will then complete the movement of the door to closed position.

Since doors of this character, in many cases, are made with finely finished metallic faces,'it is desired to preserve these surfaces against the marring action which might occur as the sections slide one over the other. For this reason,

a guide construction for the sections, moving with relation to each other, is made of such character that, at most, but small portions of the sections will be in contact during any such sliding movement, reducing the areas of the sections subjected to abrasive action. This also will reduce friction, thereby easing the sliding movedescription and the drawings, in which is illustrated an embodiment of apparatus for carrying out the invention.

The invention, however, is not intended to be restricted to any particular construction or arrangement of parts, or to any particular application of such construction, or to any specific manner of use, or to any. of the various details thereof herein shown and described, as the same may 7 be modified in various particulars or be applied in many varied relations without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention, the practical embodiment herein illustrated and described'merely showing one of the various forms and modifications in which the invention might be embodied.

On the drawings, in which the same reference characters refer to. the same parts throughout,

and in which is disclosed an embodiment of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a truck with which the invention has been associated;

' Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the front wall of the truck, the door being shown opened, illustrating in full lines, the arrangement of the sections when the door is open and the sections collapsed, and in dotted lines, their relationship when the door is closed and the sections extended;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the truck,

the door being shown open; and 1 Fig. 4 is a detail sectional View, on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, on an enlarged scale- I As indicated above, the application of the invention is described in connection with a truck body 10, intended, in this instance, for the transportation'of foods in hospitals or for similar pruposes. Trucks of this type are mounted on wheels 12 for transportation from place to place. Some are encased, as shown here, having side walls14', a bottom 16, and a front wall 18. An opening 20 is provided, giving access to a chamber 22 within which may be deposited dishes or' the like. At an edge 24 of opening 20, there is hinged a door 26. This door may consist of a The two sections may be made of sheet metal,

finished, as desired, to display highly polished surfaces to the exterior and also for heat protective purposes. Section 28, in this case the section hinged at opening 20, is defined by a rectangular sheet of metal turned back upon itself at its ends 32 to provide grooves 34 which thus form ways for the reception of slides 36. These slides may be the edges of section 30. For certain purposes set forth herein, plates 38 are applied and secured to the front face 40 of section 30. These plates also function to retain face 40 spaced away from the rear face 42 of section 28 throughout the operations of the door.

As can be noted from Fig. 4, plate 38 extends beyond the edge of section 30 in order properly to engage within groove 34 and properly to position the end of section 30 with relation to end 32. An additional plate 44 may be applied between plates 38 in order to space the faces properly throughout their extent, and also to rigidify section 30.

On the rear face 46 of section 30 are mounted bearing members 48 to which are pivotally secured the ends 50 of the bars 52. The bars, preferably of metal, are extended within chamber 22 to be pivoted upon bearings 54, in this case shown as secured to bottom 16. The bearing members and the bars are located as closely adjacent walls 14 as possible to leave free all the space within chamber 22 between the bars.

It can be understood that, as a handle 56 is grasped, or as downward pressure is brought to bear on the handle by the foot or some other means, door 26 will bemoved outwardly away from the opening. As door 26 is moved toward and away from opening 20, sections 28 and 30 will be caused to slide with relation to each other, in the first case moving into the extended position in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and in the other case, to the full line position of that figure.

Intermediately of the bar there may be provided an eye 58 for the reception of an end of a coiled spring 60. This spring may find an anchorage in another eye 62 which may have a shank 64 screw-threaded and extended through an. opening in a bracket 68. By means of a thumb nut '70 engaging the portion of the shank extending beyond the bracket, the tension of spring 60 may be varied. As can be seen from the drawings, as bar 52 moves from the full line position to the dotted line position of Fig. 2, the extension of spring 60 will become less, with the effect that the force tending to move the door to closed position will likewise become less. In this manner, acceleration of door 26 to the closed position will be negative to such an extent that,

when the edges of section 30 come into abutment with stop pieces 72 around opening 20, there will be but slight concussion, and, therefore, little sound. a i 7 What little possibility of concussion noises there is may be eliminated or reduced to an inappreciable state by making pieces '72 of resilient material, such as rubber. In such cases where the pieces extend beyond the outer surface of wall 18, a boundary rib 74 may be disposed immediately above the top edge of the opening to close the slot formed by spacing the door away from the wall, and also to provide, with the door, an ornamental finish when the door is closed.

' The manner in which the sliding construction is made up and the simple mechanism involved for effecting movement/of the door has reduced the number of moving parts to a minimum with struction whichendanger the hands of an; opera-v tor. The sections move apart and, when. moved together; might clampthe hand of theo'perator'f between them. A door according tothisl'invem tion ,cannot be efiective so to clamp between its sections the hand of an, operator. Both sections are retained together; they never separateand. they neverprovide an opening between them into which the hand might be inserted, whereas the. other type of door requires for its. manipulation.

' that the hand be brought adjacent an opening fcirmed in, this manner. Furthermore, doors of. this type of invention require no counterweight,

although, wheredoorsof extremely large size, are j to bebperated, a counterweight might be employed without appreciably. reducing the efiective capacity of the truck.

Many; other changes could be effected in th particular apparatus designed, and in the methods of operation set forth, and in specific detailsthereof, without substantially departing from the invention intendedto be defined, in the .claims,

the specific description herein being merely to illustrate an operative embodiment carrying out.

the spirit of theinvention.

I claim:

l, The combination. with a walled chamber having an open side for permitting access to'the interior or the chamber, of means for controlling access to the chamber through the open side, the

controlling means being positionable to prevent access tothe chamber, and also to permit access tothe chamber, the means, when preventing ac.- cess to thecha-mber, being of greater extent than when permitting access to the chamber, and means for tending toraise the controlling means to access preventing position. theraising' tending means becoming less effectiveas thecontrolling means approaches access preventing position.

2 The combination with awalled chamber having anopen side for permitting'access to the interior of the chamber, of means for. controlling access to the chamber through the open side, the.

controlling means being positionable to prevent access to'the chamben'and also to permit access tothechamber, the means, when. preventing access tothe chamber, being of, greater extentthan when permitting access to the chamber, the means including a pair o f-..secti ons retained extensibh with relation to each other, the sections being extended substantially a maximum when the means prevents access to the chamber, and means for tending to raise the controlling means to access preventing position, the raising tending means becoming less effective as the controlling means approaches access preventing position.

3. The combination with a walled chamber having an open side for permitting access to the interior of the chamber, of means for controlling access to the chamber through the open side, the controlling means being positionable to prevent access to the chamber, and also to permit access to the chamber, the means, when preventing access to the chamber, being of greater extent than when permitting access to the chamher, the means including a pair of sections, one of the sections being pivoted at the open side of the chamber, the other section being mounted for movement with relation to the pivoted secaccess to the chamber, and. also to permit a tothe chamber, the means, when 'preventi ng. ac cess to thechamber, being'of greater extent't when permitting access to the chamber, them including a pair'of sections,- oneof. the'fs'ec on being pivoted at the Open. side t'thejc am r," the other section being mounted for movement with relation to'the pivoted seeti a member.- pivotally engaging theother section anda wall of, the chambenwhereby, when thepivoted sectiqn. is moved to access preventing, position, theotl i section will be extended, andmeans for tending to raise the controllingmeans toaccess prevent-E ing position, the raising tending means becqm less effective as the controllingmeans appro access preventing position.

5. The combination with a walled chamber hav-.. ing an open side for permitting access, tothe 11-" terior of the chamber, of means for] control access to the. chamber through. the -pen,'s controlling 'means being posit'ionajbleto. pre. 'Ient I access to the chamber, anda lso to permit access to'.' the chamber, the means, when preventingfaccess to the chamber, being of greater ex w when permitting. access to the chamber; t I, 7 including a, pair of sections, one of the is ctio'ns being pivoted, at the Iopenside of thech her, the other section being mounted forfmov ernnt, with relation to the pivoted section, a. 'me' 1'n er pivotally engaging the other section and rhetortom of. the chamber, whereby, when thebivoted section is moved to access preventing'position, the, other section will be extended, and 'means for, tendingv to. raise the controlling meanstofaccess preventing position, the raising tending rn eans, becomingless effective as the controlling means approaches access preventingpqsitio i,

6. The combinationwith a walled chamber hay;- ing an open side for permitting aecess tolthe, terior of the chamber, of means for qqmr'pumg. access to the chamberthroughtheopenside, th controlling means being positionable t0 Di I cc s t the h m e and also. to- 'erm f'a esj to the chamber, themean's, when preventing access to the chamber, being of greater extent than when permitting access to the chamber, the means including a pair of sections, one of the sections being pivoted at the open side of the chamber, the other section being mounted for movement with relation to the pivoted section, a member pivotally engaging the other section and the bottom of the chamber, whereby, when the pivoted section is moved to access permitting position, the sections will be collapsed, and means for tending to raise the controlling means to access preventing position, the raising tending means becoming less effective as the controlling means approaches access preventing position.

7. The combination with a Walled chamber having an open side for permitting access to the interior of the chamber, of means for controlling access to the chamber through the open side, the controlling means being positionable to prevent access to the chamber, and also to permit access to the chamber, the means, when preventingaccess to the'chamber, being of greater extent than when permitting access to the chamber, the means including a pair of sections, one of the sections being pivoted at the open side of the chamber, the other section being mounted foromovement with relation to the pivoted sec ,tion,t a member pivotally engaging the other section and a' wall of the chamber, the length of the member and the position of its pivots being predeterminedly arranged'to cause extension of the other section when the pivoted section is .moved to 'access preventing position, and means access to the chamber, and also to permit access 'to the chamber, the means, when preventing access to thechamber, being of greater extent than when permitting access to the chamber, the

means including a pair of sections, one of the sections being pivoted at the open side of the chamber, the other section being mounted for movement with relation to the pivoted section, a member pivotally engaging the other section and the bottom of the chamber, the length of .the member and the position of its pivots'being 'predeterminedly arranged to cause extension of the other section when the pivoted section is moved toaccess preventing position, and means for tending to raisethe'controlling means to ac- ,cess preventing position, the raising ,tending means becoming less efiective as the controlling means approaches access preventing position.

9. The combination with a walled chamber havingan open side for permitting access to the interior. of the chamber, of means for controlling access to-the chamber throughtheopen side.

the controlling means being positionable to prevent access to the chamber, and alsoto permit access to the chamber, the means,,when prevent- 7 ing access to the chamber, being of greater extent than when permitting access to the chamber, the means including a pair of sections, one of the sections being pivoted at the open side of the chamber, the other section being mounted for movement with relation to the pivoted section, a member pivotally engaging the other section and the bottom of the chamber, whereby, when the" pivoted section is movedto access permitting position, the section will be collapsed and the member will rest on the bottom, and means for tending to raise the controlling means to access preventing position, the raising tending means becoming less effective as the controlling means approaches access preventing position.

10. The combination with a walled chamber having an open side for permitting access ,to the interior of the chamber, ofrmeans for controlling access to the chamber through the open side, the controlling means being positionable to prevent access to the chamber, and also to permit access to the chamber, the means, when preventing access to the chamber, being of greater extent than when permitting access to the chamber, the means including a pair of sections, one of the sections being pivoted at the open side of'the chamber, the other section being mounted for movement with relation to the pivoted section, a member pivotally engaging the other section and the bottom of the chamber, whereby, when the pivoted section is moved to access permitting position, the member will rest on the bottom, and the sections will be collapsed and will be supported by the member, and means for tending to raise the controlling means to access preventing position, the raising tendingmeans becoming less effective as the controlling means approaches access preventing position.

11. The combination with a walled chamber having an open side for permitting access to the interior of the chamber, of means for controlling access to the chamber through the open side, the controlling means being positionable to prevent access to the chamber, and also to permit access to the chamber, the means, when pre venting access to the chamber, being of greater extent than when permitting access to the chamber, the means including a pair of sections, one of'the sections being pivoted at the open side of the chamber, the other section being mounted for movement with relation to the pivoted section, ,a member pivotally engaging the other section and the bottom of the chamber, whereby, when the pivoted section is moved to access permitting position, the member will rest on the bottom, and the sections will be collapsed and will be supported by the member, and means for tending to raise the section to access preventing position, the raising tending means becoming less effective as the sections approach access preventing position.

SAMUEL H. ERSHLER. 

